I never thought I would have to do this, because I have always thought of myself as someone with very strong and clear morals and ethics, but I have to apologise for something I didn't realise I was doing. A fellow designer pointed out to me that I was stealing from someone, that someone being Sally Brandl. My Graduated Shawl was inspired by a picture I had seen of the Oakland Shawl. I wrote the pattern myself, without ever seeing a copy of her pattern, and I changed the shape of the shawl too. However, it was pointed out to me that unless you can prove that 60% of your design is different from the original, then it is copyright theft. As I have never seen the original pattern I cannot state categorically that this is not the case. The shawl I created was never intended to be for anyone, other than myself, so I wasn't thinking about the possibility of copyright theft. It was only once people asked for the pattern that I wrote up the few lines that it took to create my shawl. I didn't think through the ramification of my actions and have no other excuse.
Based on a night of wrestling with my conscience I have decided that I as I cannot categorically state, hand on heart, that my pattern is 60% different from the original design (even if I believe it is) I will exclude any references to that design in my pattern. I have taken out the yarn choice and references to striping. These were the only things I took from the picture of the original design. These changes have led to the pattern now being called More Than A Triangle Shawl which is the shape of the design. The pattern is now generic and doesn't recommend any yarn choice or any yarn patterning.
I really didn't think I was stealing, but if someone thinks I am then I don't want to risk any amount of upset to the designer. I would be so angry and hurt if someone stole my design idea, even if it wasn't for personal gain. I know how much time and effort it takes to create any design. I would never undermine anyone else's source of income, as it is so difficult to make a living as a designer.
This generic pattern can be used to make a garter stitch shawl of any size that depends entirely on your yarn selection and amounts used. I hope that you still find it useful.
Once again, I apologise for any hurt or injury caused by my original inclusion of someone else's ideas in my pattern. If you have already downloaded the Graduated Shawl Pattern, I would ask you to delete it and replace it with the new version that has been sent to you via Ravelry. I really would rather be safe than sorry in a situation like this, and I hope I can safely say that it will NOT happen again.
